Autumn in Review: The Best New Fall Movies of 2024
I’m kicking off the Christmas movie season by recapping the Autumn movie season. When it comes to movies, no one does holidays and seasons better than the classic family-friendly rom-coms. This is my second year doing an Autumn movie review post. These movies are full of romance, autumn season themes, and mystery.
Great American Family didn’t do their annual autumn-themed lineup this year, but they still had plenty of new premieres during the fall months. Hallmark did their annual Fall Into Love slate for this year. So without further ado, here are my top favorites from both networks.
Top 10 of all Fall Movies
My top 10 favorites from all genres and between both networks.
10. Love at the Ranch
“Love at the Ranch” is a Great American Family movie starring: Laura Mitchell & Jon Cor. It follows Allison (Mitchell), a reporter, who is determined to write a profile piece on her favorite romance author who has disappeared from the spotlight. While looking for the author, Allison bonds with Hank (Cor) and his grandmother.
I thought the story for this was original and fun. Some cool twists I didn’t see coming, and I loved the leads in this. They were so cute together and played their characters so well. Such a cute rom-com.
9. Love’s Second Act
“Love’s Second Act” is a Great American Family movie starring: Jodie Sweetin & Tilky Jones. It follows Jamie (Sweetin), a filmmaker who needs inspiration for her latest project and finds it with her ex-boyfriend, who still runs a small town theater where they grew up.
As a fellow movie lover, I love a good cinema-inspired romance. This one did not disappoint. The leads were a good match with good chemistry. It was a sweet rom-com with heart.
8. The Heiress & the Handyman
“The Heiress & the Handyman” is a Hallmark original movie starring: Jodie Sweetin & Corey Sevier. It follows an heiress (Sweetin) who moves to a remote town farm and mistakes her neighbor (Sevier) for a handyman. They decide to work together to celebrate her family’s legacy at a local fair.
I loved this one! It was a cute riches to rags to riches again story. The characters were relatable and likable. It wasn’t too over the top or cheesy ,which I liked.
7. Haunted Wedding
“Haunted Wedding” is a Hallmark original movie starring: Janel Parrish, Dominic Sherwood & Cassandra Potenza. It follows ghost hunters Jane (Parrish) and Brian (Sherwood), whose dream wedding at a haunted Inn is interrupted by a ghost (Potenza) who mistakes Brian for her dead fiancé.
Such a unique idea! Felt fresh and new. Liked the ghost hunter theme without the super spooky elements. A wedding was a unique twist with the ghost. I loved that the love stories were central for both couples and secondary couples. I could have done without as many flashbacks, but overall a fun story.
6. Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit
“Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit” is a Hallmark Mystery original movie starring: Nikki Deloach & Andrew W. Walker. It follows caterer Goldy (Deloach) and detective Tom’s (Walker) first date as it turns into an investigation when a single gets electrocuted.
I love these two leads together. Liked that it was their first official date, but didn’t like how Goldie worked for it. Loved the leads working together, though, and their chemistry and how the mystery brought in past things and Goldie’s ex and new GF. Overall, it was a fun one.
5. A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
“A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery” is a Hallmark Mystery original movie starring: Alison Sweeney & Victor Webster. It follows Hannah (Sweeney) and Chad (Webster), who both investigate the same murder, separately, to clear a colleague’s name.
Another great installment in this series. I liked the interactions/interest between the two leads and how it’s developing. They did a good job of bringing them together. It was a fun story and a good mystery. Liked that it brought Hannah’s sisters into it again as a main part. The mom was a bit over the top, but she always is, and it was funny and true to character.
4. The Real West
“The Real West” is a Hallmark original movie starring: Kimberley Sustand & Lucas Bryant. It follows Rebecca (Sustand), who travels to a working ranch for a family vacation and meets handsome cowboy Jake (Bryant). Sparks fly when Jake turns out to be Rebecca’s sister’s new boyfriend.
I didn’t have high expectations going into this one, but that quickly changed. I LOVED it! It was a sweet family story. I enjoyed all the secondary stories, and the main romance was so fun and cute. It was very realistic with some twists I didn’t expect. Overall, a really cute story, and the leads were perfect together.
3. Autumn at Apple Hill
“Autumn at Apple Hill” is a Hallmark original movie starring: Erin Cahill & Wes Brown. It follows Elise (Cahill), who is renovating her grandparents’ Inn and befriends a CFO (Brown) of a major hotel chain who is interested in her Inn.
I loved this one! It was such a sweet story. I enjoyed that they solved their disagreements early on and that they were honest with each other. It felt real and genuine. Their relationship development was so genuine and cute. It was a breath of fresh air that the meddling mom didn’t come between the couple and was supportive.
2. The Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker
“The Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker” is a Great American Family original movie starring: . Candace Cameron Bure, Aaron Ashmore & Robin Dunne. It follows a former criminologist Ainsley McGregor (Bure), who returns to her hometown in Texas and stumbles upon a murder investigation.
I loved this new mystery! Had a solid story and twists and turns. The characters were likable. Some takes felt very similar to Aurora Teegarden (Book club vs murder club), but it was a fun new take with fresh characters. Liked the brother sister dynamic and loved interest dynamics. Picked the killer out early on, but it was still fun to see how it came to be and why.
1. His & Hers
“His & Hers” is a Hallmark original movie starring: Lacey Chabert & Brennan Elliott. It follows married lawyers (Chabert & Elliott) who find themselves going head to head against each other in a very public divorce battle.
I LOVED it! Love this co-star team together. Some was a bit predictable, but it was such a fun idea and executed so well by the cast. Loved their banter and relationship. Such a fun story!
Top 5 New Hallmark Fall Movies
Hallmark had a total of 8 new premieres during their fall lineup. It was a smaller amount than the 13 they did last year. As you can tell, I really thought Hallmark hit it out of the park with their mysteries this fall. I liked a majority of the mysteries over the regular rom-coms.
5. Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit
4. A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
3. The Real West
2. Autumn at Apple Hill
1. His & Hers
Top 5 Great American Family Fall Movies
Great American Family had 5 new movies during the fall this year. It was also down from the 7 they did during fall last year.
5. The Engagement Plan
4. Mystery by the Book
3. Love at the Ranch
2. Love’s Second Act
1. The Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker
Top 4 Fall Mysteries Movies
There were 5 mystery premieres during the fall season. Three on Hallmark Mystery and two on Great American Family.
5. Mystery by the Book
4. The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening
3. Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit
2. A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
1. The Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: A Case for the Winemaker
Top 5 Fall Rom Com Movies
This is a combined list of my top 5 favorite rom-coms from both networks.
5. The Heiress & the Handyman
4. Haunted Wedding
3. The Real West
2. Autumn at Apple Hill
1. His & Hers
There were so many good ones this fall between both networks. Did you have a favorite new fall rom-com premiere? Let me know below!
